Cessna 152 accident near Bogalusa, Louisiana, June 2, 1985
On June 2, 1985 at about 11:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5097H, was destroyed in an accident near Bogalusa, Louisiana (George R. Carr Memorial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1985 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Bogalusa, Louisiana · George R. Carr Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5097H · no longer on the register · serial 15284060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE STUDENT PLT FLEW INTO THE GROUND IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT ABOUT 1400 FT N OF RWY 18 IN APRX A 15 DEG NOSE DOWN AND 35 DEG LEFT ANGLE OF BANK. THE AFCT SLID ABOUT 80 FT WHEN IT ROTATED ABOUT IT'S RIGHT WING FLIPPING OVER 10 TO 15 FT TALL TREES COMING TO REST INVERTED APRX 110 FT FROM INITIAL IMPACT. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A SOUTHERLY TRACK HEADED TOWARD THE THRESHOLD OF RWY 18, WHICH WAS LIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT HAD 79 HOURS TOTAL TIME, INCLUDING 3 HOURS NIGHT DUAL IN MARCH AND JUNE OF 1984. AN ACQUAINTANCE OF THE PLT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED HOME FOR THE NEARBY ARPT AT APRX 0500 CDT. SUNRISE WAS 0558 CDT. VFR AT THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION, 35 MILES SE, OCCURRED AT 0822 CDT. A FLASHLIGHT THAT WAS NOT IN THE ACFT ON THE PREVIOUS FLT WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE AND THE LANDING/TAXI LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT IMPACT. 2/10 HRS ON THE HOBBS METER ELAPSED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,088 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1984; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from MCB, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5097H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.